Soil Structure & Compaction

AUS-ASC-FOR-SSC General High confidence

Benchmark Value

-30 kPa

Direction: Lower is desirable ↓

Form: MaximumOnly

Scoring Curve

This curve shows how a field measurement for this indicator would score across all available benchmark forms in this context. The scoring engine uses 5 benchmarks together — the OptimalRange form drives the primary score, while 4 guard(s) constrain the result.

Contributing Benchmarks

OptimalRange Primary MaximumOnly Guard MaximumOnly Guard MinimumOnly Guard MaximumOnly Guard

Evidence & Context

Harvesting operations must be suspended when soil matric potential rises above -30 kPa.

Metric Definition:

Soil matric potential (kPa) as a measure of soil moisture tension influencing compaction risk.

Benchmark Definition:

Regulatory trigger threshold for soil matric potential above which harvesting operations should be suspended to prevent severe soil displacement and compaction.

Justification:

The document explicitly states this threshold as a management benchmark to avoid soil damage in the relevant forest context.

Sources (1)

Preview of Impacts of Logging-Associated Compaction on Forest Soils: A Meta-Analysis - Frontiers, accessed July 30, 2025,

Impacts of Logging-Associated Compaction on Forest Soils: A Meta-Analysis - Frontiers, accessed July 30, 2025, Journal

Impacts of Logging-Associated Compaction on Forest Soils: A Meta-Analysis - Frontiers

Supporting Sources (22)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Preview of (PDF) Management of compaction during harvest of Pinus plantations in Queensland: I. Policy considerations for controlling machine activity. 1 - ResearchGate

(PDF) Management of compaction during harvest of Pinus plantations in Queensland: I. Policy considerations for controlling machine activity. 1 - ResearchGate

Contextual Support Journal

Soil Conservation Guidebook - Gov.bc.ca

Preview of (PDF) Review of factors affecting disturbance, compaction and ...

(PDF) Review of factors affecting disturbance, compaction and ...

Contextual Support Government

Compaction | VRO | Agriculture Victoria - Victorian Resources Online

Preview of (PDF) Review of factors affecting disturbance, compaction and trafficability of soils with particular reference to timber harvesting in the forests of south-west Western Australia - ResearchGate, accessed July 30, 2025,

(PDF) Review of factors affecting disturbance, compaction and trafficability of soils with particular reference to timber harvesting in the forests of south-west Western Australia - ResearchGate, accessed July 30, 2025,

Contextual Support

Australia's State of the Forests Report Synthesis 2023

Preview of Australia's Framework of Criteria and Indicators - DAFF, accessed July 12, 2025,

Australia's Framework of Criteria and Indicators - DAFF, accessed July 12, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Australia's Framework of Criteria and Indicators - DAFF, accessed July 30, 2025,

Preview of Australia's State of the Forests Report Synthesis 2023, accessed May 15, 2025,

Australia's State of the Forests Report Synthesis 2023, accessed May 15, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Australia's Framework of Criteria and Indicators - DAFF

Preview of Australian Alps - DCCEEW, accessed August 3, 2025,

Australian Alps - DCCEEW, accessed August 3, 2025,

Contextual Support Government

Alpine sphagnum bogs and associated fens - EPBC Act policy statement 3.16

Preview of Bark residue as a soil amendment in broadacre intensive vegetable production - AUSVEG, accessed July 19, 2025,

Bark residue as a soil amendment in broadacre intensive vegetable production - AUSVEG, accessed July 19, 2025,

Direct Evidence Journal

Impact of winch-assisted logging machinery on soil disturbance in the mountainous forests of Western Carpathians - Frontiers

Preview of Compaction of sandy soils in Radiata pine forests. I. A penetrometer study

Compaction of sandy soils in Radiata pine forests. I. A penetrometer study

Contextual Support Journal

Compaction of sandy soils in Radiata pine forests. I. A penetrometer study

Preview of Distribution, nature and threats to soils of the Australian Alps: A review - ResearchGate, accessed August 28, 2025,

Distribution, nature and threats to soils of the Australian Alps: A review - ResearchGate, accessed August 28, 2025,

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

REPORT ON THE INVESTIGATION INTO THE FUTURE OF CATTLE GRAZING IN THE ALPINE NATIONAL PARK

Preview of Guiding Concepts for the Application of Indicators to Interpret Change in Soil Properties and Processes in Forests

Guiding Concepts for the Application of Indicators to Interpret Change in Soil Properties and Processes in Forests

Direct Evidence Journal

Guiding Concepts for the Application of Indicators to Interpret Change in Soil Properties and Processes in Forests

Preview of Land - CSIRO

Land - CSIRO

Contextual Support Government

Land - CSIRO

Preview of New South Wales Regional Forest Agreements - DAFF

New South Wales Regional Forest Agreements - DAFF

Regulatory Framework Government

New South Wales Regional Forest Agreements - DAFF

Preview of research-repository.griffith.edu.au, accessed on May 25, 2025,

research-repository.griffith.edu.au, accessed on May 25, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Impacts of Camping and Trampling on Australian Alpine and Subalpine Vegetation and Soils - Griffith Research Online

Preview of Short-term effects in canopy gap area on the recovery of compacted soil caused by forest harvesting in old-growth Oriental beech (Fagus orientalis Lipsky) stands - iForest - Biogeosciences and Forestry

Short-term effects in canopy gap area on the recovery of compacted soil caused by forest harvesting in old-growth Oriental beech (Fagus orientalis Lipsky) stands - iForest - Biogeosciences and Forestry

Direct Evidence

RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN CONE PENETRATION RESISTANCE, BULK DENSITY, AND MOISTURE CONTENT IN UNCULTIVATED, REPACKED, AND CULTIVATED

Preview of Soil Compaction Affects the Growth and Establishment of Street Trees in Urban Australia

Soil Compaction Affects the Growth and Establishment of Street Trees in Urban Australia

Methodology Source Journal

Use of Impact Penetrometer to Determine Changes in Soil Compactness After Entracon Sioux EH30 Timber Harvesting - Crojfe

Preview of Soil Compaction and Productivity Evolution in a Harvested and Grazed Mediterranean Scots Pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) Forest - MDPI, accessed August 9, 2025,

Soil Compaction and Productivity Evolution in a Harvested and Grazed Mediterranean Scots Pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) Forest - MDPI, accessed August 9, 2025,

Direct Evidence Journal

Soil Compaction and Productivity Evolution in a Harvested and Grazed Mediterranean Scots Pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) Forest - MDPI

Preview of Soil Compaction and Productivity Evolution in a Harvested and Grazed Mediterranean Scots Pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) Forest - ResearchGate

Soil Compaction and Productivity Evolution in a Harvested and Grazed Mediterranean Scots Pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) Forest - ResearchGate

Contextual Support Journal

Soil Compaction and Productivity Evolution in a Harvested and Grazed Mediterranean Scots Pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) Forest - ResearchGate

Preview of Soil Conservation Guidebook - Gov.bc.ca

Soil Conservation Guidebook - Gov.bc.ca

Contextual Support Journal

New South Wales Regional Forest Agreements - DAFF

Preview of Synthesis based on Solgi et al. (2021) for undisturbed analogue, critical thresholds from GRDC (2022), Sands et al. (1979), and principles of best-practice forestry in sensitive alpine environments.

Synthesis based on Solgi et al. (2021) for undisturbed analogue, critical thresholds from GRDC (2022), Sands et al. (1979), and principles of best-practice forestry in sensitive alpine environments.

Contextual Support Journal

Short-term effects in canopy gap area on the recovery of compacted soil caused by forest harvesting in old-growth Oriental beech (Fagus orientalis Lipsky) stands - iForest - Biogeosciences and Forestry

Preview of The role of brush mats in mitigating machine-induced soil disturbances: an assessment using absolute and relative soil bulk density and penetration resistance - Canadian Science Publishing

The role of brush mats in mitigating machine-induced soil disturbances: an assessment using absolute and relative soil bulk density and penetration resistance - Canadian Science Publishing

Direct Evidence

The role of brush mats in mitigating machine-induced soil disturbances: an assessment using absolute and relative soil bulk density and penetration resistance - Canadian Science Publishing

Preview of theaustralianalpsnationalparks.org, accessed on May 25, 2025,

theaustralianalpsnationalparks.org, accessed on May 25, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Phosphorus Nutrition of Proteaceae in Severely Phosphorus-Impoverished Soils: Are There Lessons To Be Learned for Future Crops? - PubMed Central

Preview of theaustralianalpsnationalparks.org, accessed on May 29, 2025,

theaustralianalpsnationalparks.org, accessed on May 29, 2025,

Direct Evidence Journal

Soil Conservation in Alpine Catchments - The Kosciuszko Huts Association, accessed August 17, 2025,